Match package



y 1934- R. s. PULLEN 1,958,067

MATCH PACKAGE Filed Jan. 19, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 8, 1934.

R. S. PULLEN MATCH PACKAGE Filed Jan. 19, 1932 9Q -QQQQQQ- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 8 1934 UIT STATES 1,958,067 MATCH PACKAGE Rodney S. Pullen', Akron, Ohio; assignor towlullentit'e Company, Philadelphia, Pa.; a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 19, 19%2, Seiial No. 587,563 2Claims. (o1.20e-29) My invention pertains to the packaging of safety matches, and especially to match packages in which a plurality of matches have their stick ends protruding from the package for the purpose of gripping preparatory to withdrawal and in which the match heads are fired as they are withdrawn.

A purpose of my invention is to unite a pulland-light match package by continuous stitching.

A further purpose is to position match ignition material along the paths of travel of match heads during withdrawal of match sticks from the package, and to press the match ignition material individually against the heads of the matches.

A further purpose is to form a container of card-board or other analogous material by a series of suitable folds and perforations, and to fasten the various folds together about the matches partly by stitching and partly by the application of adhesive material.

A further purpose is to form a row of stitches binding together two folds of card-board or other suitable material and to secure a plurality of matches therebetween by stitching, the interlacings of the stitches occurring intermediate the sticks of the matches and outside the two outermost matches to complete the package.

A further purpose is to finish the package by covering the stitched portions and hide them from sight by additional folds of card-board or the like and to fasten the additional folds by the application of adhesive material.

A further purpose is to close the open ends of sides of the package by the application of a row of stitches parallel with the length of the match sticks. I

A further purpose is to close the open ends or sides of the package by the addition of separate folds of board, or by folding additional extended portions of the package within the confines of the finished package and to secure them in place by stitching.

A further purpose is to draw match heads between converging walls toward match striking material on the walls, wedging the walls apart by the heads.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

I have preferred to illustrate but three forms of myinvention choosing forms which are practical, efficient and economic, and which well illustrate the principles involved.

Figure 1 is a plan view ofa blank or strip of card-board, scored, perforated and with the ignition' material applied.

Figure 7 is ariglitend elevation of Figure 6.

Figure 31s a front elevation of the completed package, a portion b'eifig broken away to show stitching beneath. v

Figure 91s a side elevation of the package as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 1 0 is a rear elevation of the package, a portion being broken away to show the stitch-- bn Figure 11 is a transverse section through the pack g, taken on the line 11-11 or Figure 9;

Figure is a view similar to Figure 9, showing a modified form. Y a

Fig e a view similar o Figure 10, lllustratingthe' form shown in Figure 12.

Figure I is a sectional view similar to Figure 11, the section being taken on the line 14 14 of Figure 12., v p p Figure 15 is a perspective View of two insert pieceswhich arefeatures of the" modification illustrated in Figures 12, 13 and 15.

Figure 16 is a section corresponding to Figures 11 .and ll, but showing a further modification.

Figure l'l is; a view corresponding to Figure 15, illustrating a st ill further modification and showing the same element as that shown in Fig- In the drawings like numerals refer to like In the past some difliculty has been experinc d in...nan1. a turins.ma che wh ch. light durillg Wi hd awa l'Qm the. Whi Package, cause 7 the mat ch ignition material is not always brought into firm contact with the match head. This ha be n. rar iq arly. t u of t e ches near the ce n ter ofthe package, since the fasteners for uniting the p ackage have heretofore frequ a lrh enia t e en on thu ma n i possible for the package walls near the center of the package to spring apart and allow the en m t hes t0 be hs e nwi ou ta. i im bfi i e n the r to press the package walls together whenwithdrawing a match. r H

I therefore deem it. necess ary in some cases, artieul ny' when making the package" or light material, suchas thin cardboard. to stitch the package continuously from one side to the other, running the cross stitches between the matches, and thus drawing all points along each package wall toward the opposite package wall adjacent the match striking area.

Describing in illustration and not in limitation and referring to the drawings:

The preferred form of my invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 11 inclusive, is composed of a rectangular strip or" card-board or similar suitable material 30, and is divided into four broad sections 31, 32, 33, and 34 and three narrow sections 35, 36, and 37. The limits of the several sections are determined by scored lines 33 to 44 inclusive, extending transversely across the entire strip 30. The scored line 38 divides the sections 31 and 35, the scoring 39 dividing the sections 35 and 32, the scoring 40 dividing the sections 32 and 36, the scoring 41 dividing the sections 36 and 33, the scoring 42 dividing the sections 33 and 37, the scoring '43 dividing the sections 37 and 34, and the scoring 44 being placed for a convenience hereinafter referred to. V

The broad sections 31 and 32 each have a coating of ignition material 45 and 46 respectively so positioned as to register oppositely when the strip 30 is folded to form the package."

The narrow section 35 is provided with a plurality of petticoated openings 47 arranged in a line paralleling and intermediate the scored lines 38 and 39. The narrow section 36 is provided with a plurality of openingsor holes 48, of equal number and in registration with the openings 47. Both the openings 47 and 43 are adapted to receive the sticks of matches, and to permit of their free passage. The petticoated holes 47 are of such size as to prevent the passage of the heads of the matches unless a considerable pull or a sudden jerk is exerted upon the sticks. In other words the petticoating acts to retard the heads of the matches, holding them in place against accidental removal, and ensuring reasonably rapid match removal when removal takes place, so that the heads will move rapidly between the striking material faces 45 and 45 and be ignited thereby.

The assembling of the package is accomplished in the following manner.

A scored, perforated and coated blank as illus trated in Figure 1 is used, the first fold being made upon the scored line 39, the narrow petticoated section 35 and the broad section 31 remaining in line perpendicular to the rest of the blank. Then the narrow section 36 is folded upon the scored line 40, placing the section 36 and sections 33, 37 and 34 in line perpendicular to the section 32, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The sections are now arranged for reception of the matches, the petticoated openings 47 being opposite and in registration with the openings 48.

The matches 49 are inserted stick end first through the petticoated openings 4'7 and are moved across the face of broad section 32 and into the openings 48 and are stopped when the heads 50 contact with the restricted petticoated openings, leaving the heads on" the same side from which the sticks 51 were first inserted. When the matches 49 are all in proper place the broad section 31 is folded on the scored line 38 and down upon the sticks 51 as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

In this position a row or" stitching 52 is applied,

preferably close to the ignition material 45 and 46, the stitches locking with the bobbin thread between each match in the pack, and also passing beyond each end stick, as shown in Figures 11, 14 and 16. The stitching will normally be accomplished by use of a sewing machine.

The surfaces 33, 3'7 and 34 are now folded about the structure thus far formed. The broad section 33 is first bent upon the scored line 41, and is brought into contact with the broad section 31 and preferably fastened thereto by adhesive material. The narrow section 37 is now bent upon the scored lines 42, bringing it down over the match heads 50, the next and final fold being made upon the scored line 43 and the broad section 34 being brought into contact with the broad section 32 to which it is fastened by adhesive material. The package is now complete as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10.

it will be observed that the heads 50 of the matches are held in a separate chamber 53 formed by the walls of the two narrow sections 35 and 3'7, and portions of the walls of the two broad sections 33 and 34, thus isolating the heads 50 from the ignition material 45 and 4S, protecting them from accidental striking contact with outside objects and preventing softening of the heads d e to moisture.

The scored line 44 permits the bending of the broad section 34 a sufficient distance to permit the user to grasp the ends of a stick 51 between the thumb and a finger.

it will be further observed that the short section 35 is narrower than the short section 35, which causes the broad sections 31 and 32 to come in closer contact at the positions where the ignition material 45 and 46 is located, as shown in Figures 5, 5, '7, 9 and 16. This insures the contacting of the heads 50 of the matches 49 with the ignition material when the matches are withdrawn.

A distinct advantage of this construction is that the match heads, in moving between the converging package walls, wedge the walls apart and are drawn between the tightly held striking surfaces, while on the other hand, ample room is provided for the match heads in the compartment 53, without necessity for close contact of the match heads in the compartment 53 with the compartment walls.

In this way, the match heads do not abruptly come between jaw-like striking material surfaces, in which case the heads would be partly or entirely pulled off, but gradually enter the jaws of striking material, spreading the walls and being ignited as they go. The convergence of the striking compartment walls is maintained and assured by the stitches 52, which prevent too great spreading of the walls,

In Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15, I have shown a modified form of my invention, wherein end closures 54 are introduced for the purpose of sealing the ends of the package. These closure strips are shaped as shown in Figure 15 and are inserted in place when the parts occupy the position shown in Figure 5. They can then be secured either by stitching or by the application of adhesive material.

A further modification is shown in Figures 16 and 17, wherein a continuous strip 55 is folded and inserted for the same purpose as the separate end pieces 54.

The package with the closed ends has considerable advantage over the type of pack with open ends. The matches are entirely enclosed, thus excluding the possibility of moisture affecting them, the package is much stronger, as the end closures act as reinforcements, and the match head chamber is practically airtight. This latter feature in combination with the end closures, prevents the possibility of end firing, i. e. the accidental discharge of all the heads at one time and the resultant shooting of flame from either or both ends, which sometimes burns the hand of the user. The air exclusion from the match head chamber 53 makes it almost impossible for the heads to burn while therein, and the end closures further prevent fire from coming into contact with the user, even if sufiicient air did find its way to the match head chamber to permit the ignition of the heads.

In operation, the user holds the package in one hand and with the fingers of the other hand presses back, away from the match sticks 51, the end of the broad section 34 which extends outward of the scoring 44. He then grasps the end of one of the match sticks 51 and exerting a considerable force or a quick pull upon the match, jerks it out of the package. The petticoated opening 47 tends to retard the passage of the match therethrough, and the user naturally increases his efforts to move the match against this retardation.

When the prongs of the petticoating finally give way under the exertion of the user, they do so suddenly, and the head 50 of the match is consequently drawn the remainder of the distance of its travel until it reaches the ignition material 45 and 46, at an accelerated rate of speed.

Immediately after the match head passes beyond the prongs of the petticoating, the prongs partially or wholly close, preventing flame from the soon-to-be-ignited match from entering the match head compartment and possibly igniting another match.

The match head 50 now moves between the converging walls 31 and 32, progressively wedging them apart against the inward tensional pull of the stitches 52, until finally the match head 50 comes into contact with the match striking surfaces 45 and 46 in the striking jaws of the package.

The match head continues its rapid movement between the two opposite coatings of ignition material, which as before explained taper in toward each other at the point of exit of the match, assuring contact of the match head with the ignition material and resulting in the firing of the match.

It will be evident that the stitches between each pair of matches 49 provide means for holding together the walls of the match striking compartment which are individual and local to each match, so that, no matter how thin or how resilient the material of the wall may be, that match is sure to engage the striking material and be ignited.

The stitches may be formed of any suitable material, such as cotton, linen, or hemp thread, or wire, etc. Thread has the advantage over wire that thread is resilient, yielding slightly as the match head is withdrawn.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my disclosure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a match package, a plurality of matches, a package strip having preliminary and subsequent folds about the matches, ignition material on the preliminary folded sections of the package strip, a closure strip folded to form end closures for the package, stitching uniting the preliminary folded sections adjacent the matches, stitching uniting the folds of the closure strip to the folds of the package strip, and adhesive material uniting the final folds of the package strip to the closure strip to complete the package.

2. In a match package, a plurality of matches, a package strip divided into sections by scoring and having preliminary folds about the match sticks, and final folds about the preliminary folds and about the match heads, ignition material on certain of the sections, a closure strip divided into sections by scoring and folded on the scoring to form end closures for the package and to extend within the final folds of the package strip, stitching uniting the preliminary folded sections of the package strip adjacent the matches, stitching uniting the folded sections of the closure strip to the folded package strip and adhesive material uniting the final folds to the folds of the closure strip to complete the package.

RODNEY S. PULLEN. 

